Letters: Otto von Habsburg obituary

Hugh Kerr writes: When Ken Coates and I were expelled from the Labour party and the socialist group of the European parliament in 1998, Otto von Habsburg (obituary, 5 July) protested, in a plenary session of the parliament, to its president. He said that this was an attempt to influence the exercise of our independent mandate as laid down in the parliament's rules. The president agreed, and ordered a full inquiry.

Later, I went on delegation to Vienna and had dinner in the emperor's dining room at the opera house. When I told Otto he said, "Hugh, I do hope they are looking after it. I, of course, am not allowed in Vienna."

Professor John Drew writes: Otto von Habsburg was an urbane, informed and delightful speaker on matters European. He enthralled the audiences I would bring to Strasbourg as he swept majestically across a century of European history to end up with thoughtful comment on present-day issues, all in the space of 20 minutes. He was not without an impish sense of humour. When asked if he would be watching an Austria- Hungary football match, he replied: "Perhaps – who are we playing?"